Well, a couple months back I posted about my search of the perfect (for me) 2008 E350 4 matic. In the end I needed to order it... in mid August. Well, today I was able to take possession! I snapped a couple quick shots with my iPhone (attached) but will put better pictures later.

Early impressions:

Although my family had a couple MB from the early 1970's when I was young.... for many years I haven't really been around (or driven) an MB... until today!!!! Although I am far from a "driving enthusiast", from my "regular guy" perspective... this car is awesome!!! The ride and feel is great. The room is just enough for my 6'3" frame. Although the electronics are not completely what modern times allow (touchscreens, etc.), believe or not everything worked beautifully. I sat in the drivers seat, made the Bluetooth connection with my iPhone in <30 seconds then it worked flawlessly. My entire phonebook was accessible and the Handfree integration was perfect. The voice was clear and even people in the backseat were generally able to participate fully in the conversation although sometimes they had to speak louder. I entered a couple more numbers into my iPhone while parked and they were immediately usable with the system. The navigation worked pretty well despite being a little hard to enter locations in. More impressions to come.

A couple questions:

1) Is it advisable/necessary to use premium unleaded gas as recommended? If so, that's fine but just curious.

2) How does one control the volume on the navigation? I would like to be able to make it fairly quiet but the volume control doesn't seem to affect it. Furthermore, the mute button only seems to have an effect if the navigation is speaking. If not, no effect. Finally, if I touch anything with the navigation, it cancels the mute... it that expected?

3) The headrest entertainment system (expensive but VERY nice, especially with a 1 and 4 year-old) has an Aux (3.5 mm) port and mentions there is a iPod Vizualogic video cable. But I can't seem to find it anywhere? Will any brand do? What should it cost? Anyone with experience on how it works?

4) Any advice on cleaning the leather? No mess yet but with little ones it's sure to come. While I would love to limit/avoid eating and drinking in the car, the reality is different. Anyone with advice on any specific food items that are particularly tough to clean?

5) The one item I haven't really figured out is the voice control. Any tips? Also, is the car manual online available? Speaking of that, where do most people keep that stuff. With the glove compartment needed for the iPod integration, etc... perhaps the undertrunk area above the spare tire?

Sorry for the noob questions....

And for those interested, I got the car at about $3,500 off MRSP (reportedly about $500 over invoice) from a NYC region dealer. With the NYC tax rate 8.75% and the aftermarket DVD entertainment system and Bluetooth, the total price came to about $4800 upfront and $853 monthly. I know many are reporting better deals but for a new loaded custom-ordered car in an expensive (high-tax) market (NYC), I am satisfied with the deal.

Well, I must say, I am thrilled with the car and now understand (and share) your MB enthusiasm better. Hopefully I'm in the MB family for a long time. Attention to electronics will likely be an important factor on this.

Thanks in advance for any advice...

PS Previously skeptical wife loves it too... and the kids of course with their wireless headphones...

________________________________________
2008 E350 4 Matic, Iridium silver, Black leather, Burl walnut
Luxury (non-sport), P2, Panoramic, Parktronic, Bluetooth
iPod integration, Voice control, A1250 Vizualogic headrest DVD system
Leased 39 month, 10K miles/year

 

Congratulations on your new MB; you and your family will surely enjoy it.
The navigation volume needs be set in the navigation mode; every mode's settings are stored individually via the Command Unit while in respective modes.

Good Luck

 

Congratulations on the car, I am sure you will all enjoy it very much. Regarding your quesitons:

1. Premium is necessary.
2. Adjust the volume WHILE the navigation is speaking.
3. Not familiar with any aftermarket systems, sorry.
4. Lexol is very good, some like leatherique.
5. With voice control I believe you just tap the stalk to activate. I believe you can get the manual online at the MB owners section. Try this link: http://www.mbusa.com/owners/index.jsp

Enjoy the car and good luck!

 

Should go and see my W211 but I thought it had a place for the car manual at the rear seat arm rest, at least the W221 has a storage bin for the manual there.

US car owners can download the manual from MB USA as Untertürkheim suggests, an on-line manual for Euro cars can be found from www.mercedes-benz.de, in English too (in case you don't have the pdf at reach, the manuals are mostly the same anyway).

Enjoy the net car.

 

Thanks for the tip... The family already loves it!

 

Thanks... Much appreciated!!!

 

You're right... But with two little monkeys in back, I think it'll have to stay farther... But thanks!!

 

While the nav is speaking to you, adjust the volume on comand. That will take care of the nav voice. The adjustment in comands menu system will only adjust the amount the volume of the audio system (radio, cd etc.) will drop when the nav is talking to you.

Pull the VCA stick & say help. It will give you instructions.

Use premium gas. the car will perform better. Cost differential over the life of the car will be about 500 to 1,000 bucks depending on how long you keep it & how many miles you drive.

I keep the manual portfolio in my den. You will then read some at night during commercials. There is a separate manual for each option in your car, including COMAND, & VCA. If not, make them get it for you.

 

Thanks. The Nav volume is now solved. I'm getting better with the voice control. I think I should use Premium when I do my first fillup. I'm reading the manuals more. One more question, will the voice control recognize a different voice (i.e. my wife) saying the same words (eg "call home") or will it need to be programmed separately. We tried it once and it didn't recognize her voice for the things I programmed.

 

Yes, the VCA will recognize any voice. I have never even trained my system to recognize my voice better than it does untrained. Sometimes when I pull the lever and want to say Call Home, my kids will yell out another voice name to steal the call.

 

Impressive... I'm sure my 4 y/o will figure that out soon! I'm mainly a weekend driver these days so I'll play around with it this weekend.